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People group profile · PG042844

The Umm Heitan of Sudan

The Umm Heitan of Sudan, numbering about 34,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an ethnic group of Sudan.

They are an indigenous people in the Nuba Mountains people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Koalib.

Pray for the Umm HeitanPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Umm Heitan people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Umm Heitan

Fast facts

Country
Sudan
Population
34,000
Affinity group
Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
People cluster
Nuba Mountains
Primary language
Koalib (kib)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Northern Africa, Africa

Where they live

Gospel status

The Umm Heitan are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Umm Heitan

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Sunni Islam · Islam

95% adherents

Primary language

Koalib · Heibanic family

100% speak Koalib

Gospel resources in Koalib

  • Bible available, published 2023
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Umm Heitan

  1. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  2. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  3. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  4. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.

Download a prayer guide

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